Stop legitimising Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists : COCOMI to Centre
'Manipur to counter emerging trends'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 25 2023: On the eve of the resumption of peace talk between the Government of India and Kuki militant groups under SoO from tomorrow (July 26), the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has asked the Government of India not to legitimise Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups.

Speaking to the media at Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi today, COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba said, that the people of Manipur will defy everything to determine their own future and counter the emerging trends if Government of India keeps engaging and legitimizing the Kuki narco-terrorist groups despite all the available evidences.

He said that the Government of India's treatment and handling of Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups violate the fundamental rights of the indigenous Meetei citizens of Manipur.

This treatment has legitimized their existence, he said.

Decrying that the Government of India is not taking concrete action despite several evidences of violating the Suspension of Operations (SoO) ground rules by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups, Athouba asked if the Government of India is deliberately supporting narco-terrorism in the region.

Quoting a report of the Director of Intelligence Bureau, Athouba said that 1,25,000 acres of hill areas are under poppy cultivation and about 650 MT of opium are produced annually from Manipur hill areas inhabited by Kukis.

Rs 50K Crore to Rs 65K Crore revenue is generated annually from poppy plantation and opium production.

These areas are protected and managed by Armed Chin-Kuki militants, he said.

Athouba then asked on what moral ground, Government is continuing political negotiation or talks with the narco-terrorist leaders.

If Government of India keeps engaging and legitimizing the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups despite all these evidences, the people of Manipur will defy everything to determine their own future and fight the emerging Chin-Kuki narco-terrorism in Manipur.

The Indian Intelligence had gathered enough evidences to understand the politics behind all these violence and yet the Government of India is doing nothing.

"We shall use all our people's might to fight for our survival, for our younger generations", Athouba said.

He said that Manipur is emerging as the largest producer of opium in the world and Chin-Kuki Narco-Terrorist are the primary actors and SoO groups are the key players while the Government of India is politically legitimizing their illegal activities.

This will have a direct impact on the youth of the Nation, National security and even more difficult situation with bigger South and South East Asian geopolitical ramifications, he warned.

Athouba said that Suspension of Operation has turned out to be a legal protection to Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups in Manipur.

He said that Suspension of Operation is a failed peace policy of the Government of India.

It (Suspension of Operation) only led to militarization of the region with ethnic armies and it is now a threat to the integrity of Manipur, he continued.

Saying that armed cadres of SoO groups are involved in the Manipur violence, the COCOMI spokesman pointed out that ZRA cadres hoisted flags at Meitei villages and staged a demonstration in full combat dress in Churachandpur town.

There is also photo evidence of combat dressed militants mingling with the crowd that attacked Meitei villages on May 3, 2023 at Torbung, Churachandpur in the course of the infamous rally, he said.

Athouba asserted that KRA cadres were directly involved in the violence at Saikul and Dolaithabi areas.

He said that Lungi-wearing (Myanmarese) armed personnel were also involved in the Manipur violence.

One such dead man was found in the Serou-Sugnu area on June 2 while several of them were spotted in drone video footage.

He said that ZRA flags were visible in all public gatherings held in Churachandpur.

The COCOMI spokesman urged the Government of India to abrogate Suspension of Operation with all groups who have violated the ground rules.

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